478 HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



ship, they snatched a brand from under a pitch-kettle which was 

 boiling, and, making a circuit to the windward of the few articles 

 on shore, set fire to the grass in their way. This grass, which 

 was five or six feet high and as dry as stubble, burned with 

 amazing fury. The fire made rapid progress towards a tent 

 where the unhappy Tupia was lying sick of the scurvy, scorch- 

 ing in its course a sow and two pigs. Tupia and the tent were 



KANGAROO. 



saved in the nick of time : the armorer's forge, or such parts of 

 it as would burn, was consumed. The powder, which had been 

 taken ashore, had been transported back to the magazine but 

 two days before. At night, the hills on every side were dis- 

 covered to be on fire, — the conflagration having spread with 

 wonderful celerity. On the 3d of August, the ship sailed from 

 Endeavor River, the carpenter having at last completed the 

 necessary repairs. 



